I suppose you can call this good news — for now. After Fox News (who else?) reported that newly elected West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin was considering switching to the Republican Party after being offered bribes by the Republicans, he released the following statement:
“Joe Manchin is a lifelong Democrat, and he is not switching parties. This is exactly what is wrong with Washington — individuals try to put politics before our nation,” said Melvin Smith, a spokesman in the governor’s office. “Joe Manchin wants to go to Washington to encourage Members of Congress to stop partisan bickering and start putting our nation’s needs at the forefront.”
Unfortunately, Manchin must run again in 2012, so even if he does not switch he’s hardly a reliable vote for Democrats and President Obama. Indeed, he premised his campaign on being a Washington outsider (who doesn’t these days?) and his opposition the Obama Presidency and its “liberal” agenda:
Manchin was elected last week to finish the term of the late Sen. Robert Byrd (D) and must stand for election again in 2012. The governor is a conservative Democrat who campaigned on his opposition to President Barack Obama’s signature legislative policies and a pledge to challenge the liberal Democratic agenda and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.).
Sounds like he could be another Lieberman (i.e., a Fox in the Dem caucus hen house). He (along with Ben Nelson) is a likely Senate vote to repeal Health Care Reform, in whole or part, if only to make good on his campaign promises. It also can’t be ruled out that he will pull an Arlen Specter switcheroo if he believes in 2012 that Obama cannot be re-elected, or that being seen as a Democrat would be a liability to his political career. In short, he his still campaigning for his Senate seat even as he celebrates his recent victory.
With 21 Democratic Senate seats at risk in 2012, only a dramatic turnaround in the economy will make those seats safe. Since Republicans control the House and thus any further Keynesian government stimulus is “off the table” that prospect is highly unlikely.
